Orthotics

Do you suffer from painful feet? If you’re living or working in Cottesloe, East Fremantle, Mosman Park and Fremantle we would love to help you!

Description:

Feet can be likened to the wheels on a car- if the alignment is not correct then excessive stress and pressure is placed on other parts of the body leading to wear and tear.Orthoses (or Orthotics) are prescriptive medical shoe inserts that are utilized to lend assistance in realigning lower extremity. In general, orthoses act to decrease the amount of abnormal stress and strain on the foot, as well as structures above.They can reduce and eliminate painful lesions such as corns and callus that build under the foot from pressure. Orthoses can also give significant relief of painful symptoms associated with tired feet or arches. Improving the functional alignment at the foot can also attribute to decreased symptoms further up the body such as the knees, hips and back.

Common conditions treated with therapy:

Localized foot pain

Morton’s neuroma

Bunions, hammer toes

Arch

Leg/knee pain

Hip or back pain – even neck pain

Types of Orthoses available in this clinic:

There are several different types of orthoses available, with numerous variations in materials possible. Your Podiatrist will complete a thorough biomechanical assessment to determine the alignment and function of your feet and their relation to the rest of your body. After the assessment, your podiatrist can discuss which orthoses will best suit your needs, taking into consideration your preferred footwear type, the activity you want to do and the symptoms that you have.

Off-the-shelf:

These are generic style over-the-counter devices which are not customized to the individuals foot type or specific needs. They can be a good starting point to trial orthotic therapy, however these devices are a more short-term solution.

Customised:

Customised orthoses are prescription devices made for you individual foot type. A customised plaster mould is taken of both feet and a prescription is made up by the Podiatrist according to your foot type and specific requirements in order to assist in realigning your feet. The devices are then accurately constructed at the orthotic laboratory, with a turnaround time of approximately two weeks. Custom devices are the most customised and specific devices available. The literature indicates the best evidence for successful results with casted orthotic.

Orthoses are placed in your shoes and worn as much as possible in order to assist in correcting your foot function. Properly prescribed and manufactured orthoses require an appropriate shoe type and size in terms of length, width and style, to effectively accommodate the device. Once the devices are received, the Podiatrist will check the fit and assist you in adapting them appropriately into your desired footwear. When first introduced, it is essential that you wear them in progressively to allow the muscles and joints of the body time to adapt to a new posture. Our Podiatrist will give you clear instructions for the best way to wear into your orthotics in.

If you would like to know how orthotics can help or want to speak with one of our podiatrists on how to fix flat feet problems, please give George St Podiatry a call.